french firm hamonic+masson & associés has revealed plans for a mixed-use development, which would be located in paris’ first ring of suburbs — approximately eight kilometers (five miles) west of the city center. the project, named ‘high garden’, was submitted as part of ‘inventons la métropole du grand paris 2’ — an international architecture and urban planning competition that asked teams to propose schemes for various sites within the greater paris region.

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by YAM studio | video by XO3D

 

 

the competition brief called for the creation of a dynamic and attractive neighborhood on a brownfield site that currently fractures the arsenal eco-district in rueil-malmaison. it is hoped that the area, which will soon be receiving a new metro station as part of the grand paris express development, will become a vibrant destination in its own right. hamonic+masson’s design seeks to form a continuation of the site’s existing park, with a sense of nature infiltrating each part of the scheme.

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by YAM studio

 

 

the project’s centerpiece is a residential building populated with trees and topped with a communal roof garden. in fact, the integration of greenery even extends to the home’s private spaces. ‘the undersides of balconies are often neglected, but this is what contributes to public space,’ explain the architects. ‘we imagine balconies as true green areas, like suspended gardens. the introduction of a tunnel system means nature can develop vertically from flower boxes and live on these undersides.’

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by hamonic+masson & associés

 

 

meanwhile, at ground level, an expansive public square is home to a suspended structure, which contains a panoramic restaurant with a glazed façade. a fully accessible terrace, again featuring trees, crowns the structure and offers views across the site. this terrace is intended primarily as a place for relaxing, but will be capable of hosting concerts, exhibitions, and other events.

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by YAM studio

 

 

‘this poetic and atmospheric object is illuminated at all hours and throughout the seasons, becoming an event within the local community,’ explains the design team. ‘during warmer seasons a light mist transforms the structure’s underside into a refreshing island for local inhabitants. when the mist is not switched on, a pattern of illuminated dots and lines integrated into the building’s frame animate the structure.’

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by YAM studio

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by XO3D

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by hamonic+masson & associés

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by YAM studio

hamonic + masson plans new neighborhood as continuation of suburban paris park
image by YAM studio

 

 

project info:

 

program: housing, retail, co-working, food hall, brewery, panoramic restaurant, viewpoint and public space
location: rueil-malmaison, arsenal eco-district
calendar: winners of the international competition ‘inventons la métropole du grand paris 2’

 

client —
town: rueil-malmaison
developer: SPLA rueil aménagement
urban planner: bécardmap

 

team —
investors: pitch promotion, immobilière 3F, androma, gaïa promotion, perl
lead coordinating architect: hamonic+masson & associés
associate architect: R architecture
landscape architect: A+R
light design: concepto

 

engineers: TZ ingénierie (structure), maître cube (wood construction), VIZEA (environmental engineer), EDF (energy), lumicene (bioclimatic window conception), aaqius (hydrogen capsule conception), topager (urban agriculture)
operators: knot (electric scooters), veloptimo (bike share service), zephyre (electrical recharge stations), cuisine et santé (culinary workshops)

 

images: YAM studio, hamonic+masson & associés, XO3D
film: XO3D